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5 Grocery Shopping ‘Tips’ That Don’t Actually Save You Money
Tweet Share on Facebook July 23, 2012 CommentAmericans spent an average of $6,129 on food in 2010, with about $3,600 spent on groceries. It’s no wonder that budget-minded shoppers go to great lengths to save money on the cost of food, doing whatever they can to cut that grocery bill. There are now apps to help you keep track of coupons, in-store savings for frequent shoppers, and discounts available for shoppers who carry a store card.
Extreme couponers will tell you that they save hundreds of dollars on groceries each month by collecting online coupons, tracking expiration dates, and doubling up on deals at their favorite grocery stores. But how much do these strategies actually end up saving you in the long-run? In many cases, the effort it takes to snag these deals can outweigh the benefits.
Here are five common grocery shopping tips that don’t actually save you money:
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5 Signs a Rewards Checking Account is Right for You
Tweet Share on Facebook July 20, 2012 CommentSavings rates have been in a downward spiral since 2007, and are not expected to improve until late 2014, according the Federal Reserve. Faced with dismal returns on their liquid cash, Americans may feel discouraged from keeping their hard-earned money in a bank account that doesn’t reward them for saving.
This is when rewards checking accounts can come to the rescue. Retaining many of the properties you would find in a typical checking account, a rewards checking account also pays a highly attractive interest rate (up to a certain balance), but only if you can meet a specific set of criteria.
Because of the stringent requirements involved, rewards checking accounts may not be for everyone. Here some reasons that a rewards checking account may be a good fit for you:
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4 Things You Pay for at the Register that Don’t Add Value
Tweet Share on Facebook July 19, 2012 CommentRetailers recently won a major concession from banks and credit card companies. Deep within a $7 billion dollar settlement lurks an agreement that allows your favorite stores to issue a surcharge on your purchases whenever you use your credit card. It’s been part of a long-fought battle between retailers and credit card companies, and the result could mean an additional 1.5 to 3 percent in fees rung up at the point of sale.
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3 Investment Mistakes Your Broker Wants You to Make
Tweet Share on Facebook July 18, 2012 CommentThere is nothing wrong with using a stock broker sometimes. Many provide valuable advice and insights that can help you achieve your ultimate financial goals. But there are three mistakes many investors make that most brokers won’t point out. That’s because those errors put big bucks in their pockets. Here are the pitfalls you want to avoid:
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5 Cheap Ways to Keep Your Kids Entertained This Summer
Tweet Share on Facebook July 17, 2012 CommentKeeping children entertained during the long, hot summer months can be a challenge. The boob tube only satisfies for so long, and that's if you can stand watching their little brains turn to mush before your eyes. But the alternatives—movies, arcades, the water park—are expensive. So what's a frugal parent to do?
The good news is that you have options beyond just counting down the days until school is back in session. Consider the following ways to keep the summer doldrums at bay without spending a fortune:
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Are For-Profit Colleges a Rip-off?
Tweet Share on Facebook July 17, 2012 CommentA federal judge recently overturned federal regulations that would have denied federally backed loans to students attending colleges that graduated students with substantial debt and no job. The regulations, declared by the Department of Education, were intended to lower costs and increase educational value for students. But more than that, they raise an important question: Are for-profit colleges a bad deal?
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6 Tips for Snagging Late Summer Travel Deals
Tweet Share on Facebook July 16, 2012 CommentIf you’re still due for a summer getaway or just yearning for an escape after a long summer, there’s still time to take that much-needed trip to another city, trek across the country, or even go abroad. The late summer months can be the perfect time to take a trip—especially if you’re heading to a destination that’s currently in its off-peak season.
Budget-minded travelers can find dozens of last minute deals and low rates at non-traditional travel websites. Even if you haven’t had a lot of time to plan that unforgettable summer vacation, you can find unbeatable deals on hotels, flights, attractions, and travel packages around the globe.
Here are six strategies to help you snag some of those late summer travel deals:
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What You Need to Know About the Volcker Rule
Tweet Share on Facebook July 13, 2012 CommentThe Volcker Rule, part of the 2010 Dodd-Frank bill, was scheduled to go into effect in two weeks’ time. But earlier this year, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke conceded that the Fed will miss the upcoming deadline. Even with the deferred implementation, the Volcker Rule is on every banker’s lips. But what is the average person supposed to make of the rule? And how will it impact Main Street, as well as Wall Street?
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5 Reasons to Stick with Paper Checks
Tweet Share on Facebook July 13, 2012 CommentWith mobile wallets, online checking accounts and person-to-person electronic payments all the rage, and direct deposit old news at this point, the personal paper check is beginning to look understandably silly and cumbersome. Why, with all this technology at our fingertips do we need to actually write something out, then hand it to someone who must then go to a bank branch or ATM to deposit it. By giving someone a check, you're basically assigning them an errand. Thanks, but no thanks!
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4 Life Insurance Policies You Should Never Buy
Tweet Share on Facebook July 12, 2012 CommentDespite the title of this post, I am a huge fan of life insurance. In fact, if it weren’t for term life insurance, I never would have been able to go to college and have a career as a financial adviser. (My father compared term life vs whole life and bought a small term life policy two months before he passed away unexpectedly at age 44. That life insurance served as an important safety net for me and my siblings.)
Nobody knows when their number is up, of course. But regardless, there are two kinds of people who simply must own life insurance:
